USA TODAY 10Best
Letchworth State Park wins title of Best New York Attraction
Best New York Attraction (2017)
Some of the United States' most recognizable attractions – Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building – are found in New York City. And while the Big Apple has no shortage of travel-worthy attractions, the rest of the state is well worth exploration as well. Outside the iconic metropolis in the Empire State, travelers find natural wonders like Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands, award-winning wineries, Revolutionary War sites and the elegant estates of the Hudson Valley.
We asked a panel of New York travel writers to nominate their favorite state attractions, and for the past four weeks, our readers have been voting for their favorites. The results are in!
The top 10 winners in the category Best New York Attraction are as follows:
- National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum - Cooperstown
- Broadway Theatre District - New York City
- Statue Of Liberty - New York City
- Women's Rights National Historical Park - Seneca Falls
- Empire State Building - New York City
- Niagara Falls - Niagara
- Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House Complex - Buffalo
- The Corning Museum of Glass - Corning
- Watkins Glen State Park - Watkins Glen
- Letchworth State Park - Castile
Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Atlanta Journal Constitution, Curtis Compton
No. 10:
This Cooperstown museum celebrates all things baseball, America's greatest pastime. The greats are immortalized here alongside some of the game's most significant relics, like the ball hit by Babe Ruth for his 500th home run and Shoeless Joe Jackson's shoes.
Photo courtesy of NYC & Company/Joe Buglewicz
No. 9:
Broadway means lights, action, and the world's best in live theater. While many productions officially designated as "Broadway plays" are in theaters not actually on the street of the same name, the entire theater district bears its name. Throw in the fact that Broadway is one of the intersecting streets at world-renowned Times Square and you have the makings of a legendary street that's on everyone's lips.
Photo courtesy of NYC & Company/Julienne Schaer
No. 8:
The Statue of Liberty is as much as symbol of the United States as it is of the park in which it stands (Statue Of Liberty National Monument). The copper Lady Liberty has been cared for by the National Park Service since 1933.
No. 7:
In July 1848 the town of Seneca Falls played host to the first Women's Rights Convention. Women's Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the fight for equality from the 19th century through to today.
Photo courtesy of NYC & Company/ Kate Glicksberg
No. 6:
Heading up into the clouds atop the mega tall Empire State Building is a must for most visitors to New York City, especially those with a penchant for romantic movies (Sleepless in Seattle and An Affair to Remember were both filmed here). With vast views of New York City's skyline, a trip up to the open-air Observatory deck of this iconic building results in some beloved pictures by visitors.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Orchidpoet
No. 5:
Visitors may have to don a strong rain parka to visit Niagara Falls, but that doesn’t stop travelers from standing in the spray of the powerful waterfalls and reveling in the strong presence of Mother Nature. Niagara Falls also provides some education on the physics of water as the falls create an abundance of hydroelectric power. As a result, visitors leave feeling like they saw impressive scenery and learned more about the way the world works.
Photo courtesy of Doug Benz for USA TODAY
No. 4:
Many an expert considers the Darwin Martin House Complex to be Frank Lloyd Wright's ultimate masterpiece. Located in Buffalo, the complex was built between 1903 and 1905 for Wright's patron and friend, and today, visitors can tour the complex to learn about Wright's signature Prairie House.
Photo courtesy of The Corning Museum of Glass
No. 3:
The Corning Museum of Glass tells the story of this versatile, ancient material through its hands-on exhibits and collection of glass pieces spanning 3,500 years. Narrated glass-making demonstrations occur throughout the day, and interested visitors can even sign up for beginner glass-making workshops, taught year round.
Photo courtesy of iStock / jgorzynik
No. 2:
Located in the scenic Finger Lakes region of New York, Watkins Glen State Park features an amazing 19 waterfalls. As visitors walk along the glen, the stream cutting through the park descends more than 400 feet with 200-foot cliffs to either side, all within the space of 2 miles. The result is some truly breathtaking scenery.
Photo courtesy of iStock / JimVallee
No. 1:
Nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the East," New York's Letchworth State Park is considered one of the most scenic areas in the Eastern USA. The Genesee River runs through a gorge cutting through the park, passing over three magnificent waterfalls along the way. Hikers have access to 66 miles of trail, and rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking and hot air ballooning are also on offer.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Stephanie Vermillion (The Wanderlost Way) and Andrea Wien (10Best) were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of travel in New York.
Congratulations to all these winning attractions.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Andrea Wien
Andrea Wien, 10Best's New York Local Expert, was... Read More
Andrea Wien, 10Best's New York Local Expert, was bitten by the travel bug from an early age, and has lived in New York, Seattle, Cleveland and Sydney, Australia since 2007. When she's not traveling or planning a trip, you'll likely find her eating tacos while throwing darts and watching the Cleveland Browns. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Andrea Wien
Andrea Wien, 10Best's New York Local Expert, was bitten by the travel bug from an early age, and has lived in New York, Seattle, Cleveland and Sydney, Australia since 2007. When she's not traveling or planning a trip, you'll likely find her eating tacos while throwing darts and watching the Cleveland Browns. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Stephanie Vermillion
Stephanie Vermillion is a travel writer and... Read More
Stephanie Vermillion is a travel writer and blogger based in Hoboken, New Jersey. Her writing has been published in outlets like Mental Floss, MSN and Elite Daily, and she is a contributing author to Thought Catalog's travel book, "Let's Get Lost." Stephanie is an avid hiker and (mis)adventurer, and runs the road trip travel blog, The Wanderlost Way. Connect on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
Stephanie Vermillion
Stephanie Vermillion is a travel writer and blogger based in Hoboken, New Jersey. Her writing has been published in outlets like Mental Floss, MSN and Elite Daily, and she is a contributing author to Thought Catalog's travel book, "Let's Get Lost." Stephanie is an avid hiker and (mis)adventurer, and runs the road trip travel blog, The Wanderlost Way. Connect on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
